Technology

Automated pizza assembly line sees hygiene, food-handling improvements

The pizza assembly line is now completely enclosed to enhance food hygiene. (Photo provided)

November 5, 2020

The company behind the automated pizza assembly line, Picnic, said it has improved the system in the wake of increased interest in the technology which operates on a robot-as-a-service model, as previously covered by Pizza Marketplace.

Picnic has been working with "several high-profile industry brands," that have expressed interest in using the system since contact-free preparation modes are more in demand due to the pandemic, according to a company press release.

The system now features a design that maintains the assembly line's commercial-grade ruggedness but adds to the technology's appearance so it can be placed in front-of-house. The new design improves upon existing hardware by enhancing ease-of-assembly and reliability.

Larger front and top doors make it easier for loading and cleaning as well as better interior visibility of ingredient levels. The user interface has also been optimized to reduce training and increase ease of operation.

New refrigeration and an enclosed design ensure all surfaces are maintained at food-safe temperatures, while an improved hopper allows for drainage of extra liquid for better handling of wet and brined ingredients.

"We are seeing an increase in enthusiasm for our system and early indications are that the improvements we've made resonate with our customers," Clayton Wood, CEO of Picnic, said in the release. "With our success and these improvements, an increasing number of kitchen operators are contacting us with interest in our system."

The Picnic system uses a modular assembly line with high-capacity sauce, cheese, pepperoni and granular ingredient dispensers to make hundreds of pizzas per hour in any shape from 8 to 18 inches.